If you've ever struggled to hoist a five-gallon water bottle atop your office's water cooler, you may wonder whether there's a better way. Enter a unique Florida invention that cools and dehumidifies an office's air, while generating fresh, clean drinking water as a byproduct of the process. Read on to learn more about the scientific principles behind this one-of-a-kind dehumidifier and how using these devices as a complement to existing commercial air conditioning systems could save money, while assisting conservation efforts. 

How Does This Dehumidifier Work?

In many ways, this revolutionary dehumidifier is no different from the dozens of other models available on the market. Like other dehumidifiers, it sucks in warm outside air, runs it over cooled coils, then funnels condensation into a basin. This process physically cools the air inside a room and, by reducing humidity, helps it to feel even cooler than the thermostat would indicate. 

But, unlike other dehumidifiers, this invention takes the condensation that forms inside the basin, purifies it through a multi-step filtration process, and then dispenses it in the form of drinking water. While the idea of drinking "air-water" can be jarring, to some, the high-tech filtration process ensures that this water is clean, pure, and fresh-tasting.

What Implications Could This Invention Have for Commercial A/C Systems? 

Many offices already spend hundreds of dollars per year on filtered drinking water, not to mention the overhead cost of maintaining the building at a cool 72 degrees all summer. By employing these special dehumidifiers, offices can maintain a renewable source of drinking water for employees and customers, for only the cost of occasionally changing the dehumidifier's filters. In areas with high humidity, this dehumidifier can often pay for itself within just a few years, simply by eliminating the need for a separate water service. 

In addition, adding these dehumidifiers around an office can work to cool the air, reducing the load on the commercial A/C system. If your building's A/C is getting older and you're not keen on replacing it, just yet, placing a few of these dehumidifiers in high-traffic areas can reduce the number of times your A/C needs to cycle on and off on a daily basis, extending its lifespan. As this technology continues to be refined, it's possible that future commercial A/C systems will rely on filtering (instead of dumping) the "wastewater" that forms when hot, humid air comes into contact with cooled dehumidifier coils.

For more information, call your commercial air conditioning provider.